Planetary Militia at The Painting Agency Blog

We have mailed out over a thousand white metal 15mm Planetary Militia miniatures since released last month and now that a load of Steornede Battlesuits are stomping off too it was a pleasure to see Allison M over on his blog put up a posting. You can visit the full posting on his blog HERE. 

The Peoples Protectors. PPP Home Guard 

“The People's Planetary Partnership have the odd distinction of being the only sustainably functioning anarcho-socialist society in human history, existing across multiple star systems with a government based on group arbitration and consensus-building. While no official apparatus exists to enforce ideological conformity, this governmental structure is sufficiently popular that dissenters generally find themselves facing social scorn and little cooperation from their fellow citizens. 

Consequently, outsiders have variously described the PPP as "stodgy but egalitarian" and "numbingly conformist". The PPP remain technologically inferior to their main stellar-political rivals the Cultural Collective, largely because of their refusal to create sentient artificial intelligences. They maintain that "leashed" AI's constitute slavery while unrestricted ones represent an existential threat to humanity. They loosely ally themselves with the photosynthetic Chloros, whose biological collectivism they admire.” 

I think Allison's take on using the Planetary Defence Forces, the other name for the PM, is really nice. Combines my own thinking about what these troops are which is mid tech level, basic, core and localised to a world along with a new story and uniform that make them quite different to look at. Across the infantry and the Hazelwurm Patrol Car too. Here are pictures of our own uniforms on the same miniatures. If you want to see them on our website go HERE and HERE. 

Thanks for Reading. 

GBS

IAF072 Steornede Battlesuits Released!

There was a smooth hum and vibration that began as Kimball pressed the start up sequence into the battlesuit's raised front plate. Transmission systems started up and the power core cycled at a low rate. One by one the displays on the inside of the front plate began to wink into life showing reds that flowed to amber and then into green ready status. Kimball settled himself into the padded pilots frame of the Steornede and placed his feet onto the grippers that quickly molded themselves to his bare flesh making themselves an extension of his legs. He reached out and flicked the primary switch that brought the front plate down. As it locked into place the titanium alloy clamps around the plate clunked home sealing it airtight and the displays were now at eye level. Each of Kimball's arms sat at his side with a control stick and buttons for the weapon systems in the arms of the battlesuit. He had been the pilot of PC119STR for two years but to him the machine was simply called 'Beth'. The real Beth had left him a year ago for a guy that worked for Maudlin in a high rise block in down town Pelcan City. More money but less fun. Still his Beth was purring now and would do as he told her. Around him the five other battlesuits in his platoon were showing ready status. He ran a check on the twin Moth 88 cannons which were his Steornede's primary weapons and they showed armed with twelve thousands case less rounds loaded. Kimball was ready. 

It would not be a long walk from the barracks to the combat zone. Not now. His Beth had been in action twice already against the aliens and the second time he had been lucky to get out alive. On the outskirts of the city they had been encircled as the barricades had fallen. He had been rescued with a magnetic lock from a dropped line that had lifted his Steornede up and out of harms way. Damn lucky that grav platform had seen him as it floated over, his ammunition was expended and Beth just could not run like those fancy Havelocks. This time the enemy was only a few streets away and Kimball doubted he would ever breath fresh air again so the smell of Beth would be last in his nostrils. He would die inside the battlesuit. He would die to give the people time to escape the city. Kimball wondered if the real Beth was still alive. Was she dead or had she got out already? Part of him really hoped she had. 

Using the platoon comm he signalled the order to move out. Up the ramp and into the street. His legs moved and the Steornede amplified it and stomped forward into a fight against an alien enemy that seemingly could not be stopped. 

Captain Frederick Kimball, Pelcan City, New Glastonbury, 4334IC 

I hope you liked the little extract from a future title here and welcome to our last releases for March 2015. We are expanding the existing Planetary Militia range with two new battlesuits in 15mm scale. These new Steornede's fit exactly with the Planetary Militia platoon with unique miniature and with the vehicles too such as the Colabreta Carrier and the Hazelwurm Patrol Car. These are all great 15mm science fiction miniatures and all of us here at The Ion Age have been really pleased with the feedback not only from customers but also online to the first look at the Steornede's last week. Read on! 

IAF072A Steornede Battlesuit with Twin Missile Pods 

The defence forces of the Prydian Precinct have their own battlesuit to put them on an equal footing with those who would invade or insurrection their homes. The Steornede is that battlesuit and this is the first variant made for short range anti-vehicle and artillery use. This code comprises a highly detailed 15mm scale miniature which is approx 30mm tall supplied as a one piece resin body and two separate white metal arms mounting Anda 60mm missile pods. Suitable for use in many different settings it is excellent back up for your infantry. As always this code can be bought as a pack or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Go HERE. Price 5.00GBP. 

IAF072B Steornede Battlesuit with Twin Moth 88 Cannons 

The defence forces of the Prydian Precinct have their own battlesuit to put them on an equal footing with those who would invade or insurrection their homes. The Steornede is that battlesuit and this is the second variant made for short to medium range anti-infantry use. This code comprises a highly detailed 15mm scale miniature which is approx 30mm tall supplied as a one piece resin body and two separate white metal arms mounting twin barrel Moth 88 Cannons. Suitable for use in many different settings it is excellent back up for your infantry. As always this code can be bought as a pack or select the three packs and save 10% option on the page. Go HERE. Price 5.00GBP. 

Are you interested in the Planetary Militia range at The Ion Age? 

IAF067 Planetary Militia 1st Squad 

IAF068 Planetary Militia 2nd Squad 

IAF069 Planetary Militia 1st Platoon Command 

IAFP07 Planetary Militia Platoon - A full platoon of Planetary Militia with a unique miniature only found in this code. 

IAF054 Hazelwurm MkII Patrol Car – Planetary Militia 

IAF061A Colabreta Patrol Carrier MkI – Planetary Militia 

IAF061B Colabreta Command Carrier MkIII – Planetary Militia 

You can see all of the codes for the Infantry HERE

You can see all of the codes for the Vehicles HERE

Information Burst 

We have not managed all that we would have liked this month and I apologise for no news on Patrol Angis but we are nearly ready I promise! This is our last pair of releases for March 2015. I hope you like the two new Steornede Battlesuits and its a hybrid for us as its our only bi-pedal model this far to have a resin body and metal parts too. You also have until the end of the month to get the free miniature which is currently IMP19 Happy Burger Bot. You guys are loving this characterful robot. Thanks for your custom and for the kind words about our products we do appreciate it. We work hard and we want you all to have fun with your wargaming in our space opera setting. Finally remember that by placing an order with us you will sign up for an account with the website and that means you get Reward Points in all purchases and the free monthly miniature too. These points can be used any time to get free products and discounts on orders. 

Thanks for Reading. 

GBS

Yordan and the Steornede Battlesuits

We are gearing up for our convention season month long offers so we thought as it was a Thursday we would share with you all some eye candy and a sneak peek as well. Ain't that just marvellous! We do not do many pure visual postings on the blog but this one ties together several things that are in the immediate future of all IonFans and 15mm science fiction wargamers too. Namely the coming posts about Patrol Angis and the near to release Planetary Militia Battlesuits. 

A Yordist Duxis Battlesuit with Fretan Railgun

A Yordist portable weapon with Retained Gunners

Holding the heights.  Yordist Knights and Espatan Moth 88.

I have placed a caption on each image but it is the one at the header of this post that will grab your attention the most. A pair of Steornede Battlesuits the heaviest infantry open to Planetary Militia commanders on the ground such as in the campaign for Camarthen Prime against the Shia Khan Empire. A brother to the elegant Duxis and the workhorse Havelock battlesuits. Lacking a gauntlet or hand these battlesuits are pure mobile fire support armed with a pair of Moth 88 twin barrel cannons or a pair of Anda Missile Pods. They have a really rather different look as well which is what we wanted for the Planetary Militia with various low light and infra-red lenses for urban and night fighting and high power lights for illumination. Backing up PM Squads and light vehicles. You can see more about Planetary Defence Forces HERE. We will be releasing these battlesuits before the end of March 2015 so plan accordingly if you like them. I think Sam Croes did a super job on these mechanical ogres. 

The other pictures show Retained Knights along with an Espaten Portable Weapon and a Duxis Battlesuit in the light green and yellow colour schemes of the League of Yordan. We have been playing Patrol Angis with these and indeed all of these miniatures will be featuring in the excellent value Patrol Angis game set and there will be more on this next week. We know you are used to the white and red of the Prydian Army but on Dando's World the League of Yordan is dominant and its great to see these miniatures in different colours. We hope you like them. 

Thanks for Reading. 

GBS

Model Brush reviews Ion Age Terrain pieces

Model Brush is a wargaming review website run by a small group of talented guys in Spain. Late in 2014 they approached us to review our Ion Age Terrain Range on their website. Specifically we sent them the introductory starter set IAF044BU01 Habitation Outpost Bundle which has a 20% saving giving a great overview of our terrain range. 

You can access the product review HERE. 

The review looks in depth and impartially at the pieces in the Habitation Outpost Bundle and features many images and opinions. They look at the Hab Domes, the Connector Corridors, the Turret Modules, the Pressure Door, Crossroads Connector and the Power Spire. I like their review style and I will leave you with the final line from the review:

 “We can only say good things about these little outpost: the quality is great and the size is bigger than we expected. The only bad thing about it is… that we want the bigger outpost packs!!! (Meanwhile, we have started painting this outpost, so stay tuned for it!)” 

Information Burst 

Its coming up on the middle of March and while we have been really quiet this month its down to me as I put the final touches to Patrol Angis before starting talking about it in the second half of the month. We are busy with a lot of cool things for later in the year and have just finished the Planetary Militia battlesuit..shussh! You also have until the end of the month to get the free miniature which is currently IMP19 Happy Burger Bot. You guys are loving this characterful robot. Thanks for your custom and for the kind words about our products we do appreciate it. We work hard and we want you all to have fun with your wargaming in our space opera setting. Finally remember that by placing an order with us you will sign up for an account with the website and that means you get Reward Points in all purchases and the free monthly miniature too. These points can be used any time to get free products and discounts on orders. 

Thanks for Reading. 

GBS

Geo Shelters at the Painting Agency Blog

Its great to see Ion Age buildings painted up in schemes other than our own and today I saw a blog posting by Allison M over at the Painting Agency which did just that.  A pair of our excellent 15mm scale Geo-Shelters painted up in a sort of haz-mat style with strong yellow with red detailing making them look really striking.  On the left the Laboratory dome and on the right the Habitation dome types.

You can click on the link above to visit the Painting Agency blog post where there are more details and another image too.

If you are interested in the Geo-Shelter for your 15mm science fiction or modern wargame collection you can see all five types of the model on our website HERE. Useful in many different settings from our own space opera to near future, post apocalypse, arctic survival, refugee camps and temporary command stations during zombie outbreaks plus many more each of our domes is about 50mm wide and 30mm tall.  One or two or half a dozen as scattered terrain on your table looks great.

Above is our own picture of the five types of Geo-Shelter and as you can see they do look rather different in grey and neutral tones.  

Thanks for Reading.

GBS

IMP19 Happy Burger Bot free miniature for March 2015!

On more Worlds than the Arks ever saw!

Its so good you will wear out your jaw!

Its the taste that gives you the finest feeling! 

Stop on by for a Smile and some good taste meal eating!

We love to fill you up so...look no further than Happy Burger!

In the Prydian Precinct there are guilds which span whole worlds and while most of these are governmental and financial as well as military there are others which are devoted to a purely commercial end.  As the Ancep Drive began to spread the news of the Code Gallant and the glue that would bind the worlds of the precinct to New Glastonbury and the Tor another idea travelled with these pioneers.  From New Glastonbury a cook and former soldier Jedard Eackson took his idea of a take away eating house that would cater to those on a modest income who wanted taste more than the nutrition of a basic diet.  Happy Burger was birthed on this notion and on every world, colony, settlement, asteroid any and all meat and other protein based animals of any kind allowable were turned into patties and then blasted with super strong spices.  This gave a universal taste.  A Happy Burger meal is the same everywhere.  By the time of his death Eackson at the ripe old age of one hundred and sixty had introduced robotic staff into his eating houses mainly due to the high turnover of Human staff whose noses could only take so much.  Happy Burger Bots are pre-programmed to be cooks, waiters and more.  As the Prydian Civil War has spread many outlets of Happy Burger have been abandoned but their bot staff continue with their tasks attempting to serve empty meal boxes to passing League and Prydian Army soldiers.

Academy Auto-Trainer Series 61, New Glastonbury, 4337IC

The IMP19 Happy Burger Bot is March 2015's free 15mm scale miniature for the month which is automatically put into every order at the rate of one per order regardless of order value.  It can also be bought in any amount on the monthly IMP page of the website.  A pre-programmed robot which carries out the orders of service given to it by its branded bosses at Happy Burger this is a characterful miniature with its ball shaped head and friendly face has a lot of possible uses.  Why did we create it?  Its not part of any army but it gives you a taste of the wider Ion Age setting.  Carrying a tray and with the HB logo emblazoned upon its chest the Bot stands 17mm tall and is a one piece white metal miniature.

Here are some views of the miniature from different angles:

Of course you earn reward points on all orders too through your account.  We realise that some of you may wish to purchase the currently free miniature to get multiples of it without placing a lot of orders so you can do just that.  Visit this page on the website for the miniature at a fair price for a special miniature.  There is a growing page on the Ion Age website where the current and all former IMP series free miniatures are shown so that you can see what came before.  Enjoy and go HERE. 

As it is our second year we look back at this time last year and see what the free miniature was at that time.  In March 2015 the free miniature was IMP07 Female Muster Patrol Officer. It was our seventh miniature to be given out free.  You can find this miniature in the Year One Collection if you are lacking it.

This month we have a fun free miniature as March will see us getting our first 15mm wargame title up for pre-order as a book but also as a game pack too.  Its going to be a month of some releases and some looks at things which are coming soon.  Did I mention it was Patrol Angis and that there would be a unique miniature in the game pack...well that is for later.  

Thanks for reading.

GBS